The progenitors of Bhutan’s democracy are surely shedding tears of anguish at the way our democracy is shaping out. Now the Election Commission has willed that the political parties and their candidates “do not have to go for door-to-door campaign during the election period”.
I wonder if that is a round-about way of suggesting that the electorate should instead go to the doorsteps of the political party candidates to listen to their campaign, which is an absolute and essential part of the election process?
Jokes aside, I had suggested early this year that “Elections Can Wait” - that we should consider deferring the 4th elections to a more suitable time when we have recovered from the ongoing crisis inflicted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
I mean how many Bhutanese - the residual population after the exodus to Australia - have the inclination, or the resources, to spend money behind a trip to their village homes to cast their votes?
It is a pity that the Election Commission has thought up everything else that is anti-democracy but not that which should help the country see a robust turnout during the elections. The least the Election Commission could have done is - made it possible for voters to be able to vote from the places where they are currently domiciled - instead of having to travel long distances to cast their votes. They should have allowed Postal Ballot - for the Bhutanese diaspora. These cost-effective measures would have assured good turnout during the elections.
But frankly, why do I get this sneaky feeling that it is precisely what the Election Commission is aspiring for: poor participation by the Bhutanese citizens!
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